Blog awareness is, as expected, highest among bloggers themselves. Members of the blogging community tend to not only write their own blogs, but read other blogs, as well as link to blog after blog. Bloggers read other blogs, quote other bloggers, and communicate with other blog owners both online and in person.

Of course that is obvious; at least to bloggers like you. That might also be the problem. As hard as it may be to believe, not everyone is a blogger. As a result, not everyone is as knowledgeable about the blogging phenomenon as we blog writers.

What is not so obvious is the level of blog awareness among the general mainstream population. In fact, many people are not aware of blogs, even though they might even read blogs themselves. They just might not know that what they are reading is a blog. While that might seem farfetched to many bloggers, it's not that outlandish to non-bloggers. After all, many people think bloggers are only self absorbed navel gazers anyway. If the mainstream media is a guide, them the only types of blogs that exist to them are political blogs, personal blogs, and the blog stylings of various celebrities.



Why not put the idea of blogging knowledge to the test? This week, when you're at work, visiting clients, socializing, or just talking to people on the street, why not ask them about blogs and blogging. Ask them if they read blogs. Perhaps they might not even have heard of the concept. Be sure to ascertain from those people who read blogs if they are aware of blogs beyond the political or personal types. If you are a business blogger, that's important information to acquire for the future. If a person is not aware of business blogs, for example, it's very difficult to initiate a blog based relationship.

Be sure to keep a record of the number of people who have heard of blogs, who have read blogs, and who might even read your own blog. At the same time, write down all of the people who have never heard of blogs, or who only possess limited knowledge of the medium. Armed with this information, you can formulate a plan to help increase awareness of blogging among the general population. Your ideas could become standard advice in the blogosphere, giving you even more traffic. Talk about benefits to gaining knowledge!

Along with your general questions, ask if the person has heard of or read your own blog or blogs. While they might not have read your powerful and informative posts, they are potential readers. Be sure to give them a business card that features your blog and URL. Along with increasing the level of blog awareness, you are gaining more visitor traffic for your own blog, and some potential long term customers and clients. Now that's putting research to work for you.

Right?



If people aren't aware of blogs, after providing answers to your informal questions, it's our job and responsibility as bloggers to spread the word. It won't happen by itself. Only in the movies can you build it and they will come. Real life doesn't work like that. People need you to share information about blogs, and the value of maintaining a blog. Unfortunately, that blogging know how doesn't just appear ready made right out of thin air.

Set up a few simple blogging questions and do some informal blogging research today. You might even convert a few more people to blog readers or writers. You might even learn more about blogging yourself as you examine aspects of blog writing you hadn't considered prior to your informal research. You may not only add some new readers and bloggers to the blogosphere, but you might strengthen your personal committment to writing great posts on your own blog as well.

Now that's some powerful blog evangelism in action.

Tags: ideas, blog awareness, research, visitor traffic.

READ MORE - Blog awareness: Public perception of blogs

The 206^th edition of the longest running internet blog carnival, the well known Carnival of the Vanities appears at Lisa's family and ducks blog known as Lil' Duck Duck.

Carnival of the Vanities has a new home at Zeuswood and Stingflower's dedicated to all things carnival blog, appropriately titled First Carnival.

Carnival of the Vanities participants and hosts should take note that there are new submission guidelines in place for all future Carnivals.

Carnival of the Vanities is the original collection of blog postings, assembling some of the best and wide ranging bloggers on the internet.



This week's Lil' Duck Duck hosted Carnival of the Vanities entries include politics, literature, science, humour, technology, business, and ducks.








I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Vanities as well.

My post is titled "Blog out: When blogging becomes a chore" where I discuss how blog out is that feeling that blogging is just not fun any longer. It's the sense that writing blog posts has become a chore and a duty. Blogging even takes on the feel of drudgery and pain. The blog owner feels burned out on blogging and all of its related activities.

Carnival of the Vanities needs hosts for upcoming editions. As a blogger, there is no one better qualified to host the Carnival of the Vanities than you!

Here is the e-mail address so you can become a host:

Contact: host [at] firstcarnival [dot] com



To participate in the Carnival of the Vanities or any of the other blog carnivals, one of the easiest techniques is to use the all inclusive carnival entry form at The Conservative Cat.





Another participation option is to simply e-mail your entry to the new e-mail address:

cotvmail -at- gmail -dot- com

As I suggest elsewhere, hosting and contributing to the various internet blog carnivals is a great promotional idea for your blog.

When you send an entry to Carnival of the Vanities, or any of the many internet blog Carnivals, don't forget to link to the hosted edition. It's not only common courtesy, but helps to increase visitor traffic for all entrants. It also shows your appreciation of the hard work done by the host in preparing the post. Everyone shares in the benefits of the expanded Carnival readership. Show the Carnival some linky love.

Next week's edition of Carnival of the Vanities appears at Tam Hanna's mobile technology blog known as TamsPalm-the Palm OS Blog.

In the meantime, head on over to the Lil' Duck Duck hosting of Carnival of the Vanities and enjoy the posts on offer.

You will almost certainly be introduced to some great new and interesting blogs.

Tags: Carnival of the Vanities, blogging, carnivals, promotions.

READ MORE - Carnival of the Vanities 206 at Lil' Duck Duck

You are the only one...

You've probably had someone tell you those very words, or ones very much like them. They are some of the most damaging words that can be said to anyone. While they seem innocent enough on the surface, their implication is far from gentle. Let me explain by way of some examples.

You are the only one deeply in debt. You are the only one who hasn't got a job, or alternatively a good job. You are the only one not making any money or becoming successful. You are the only one who ever had that problem. You are the only one who never succeeded. You are the only one who never does anything right. You are the only one...on and and on. As you can see, the variations to the theme are endless. They are also illogical and entirely untrue.

If you were the only one in deeply in debt, there would be no need for a debt collection industry. If you were the only person without a job, then there would be no need for organizations as widely different as employment agencies and unemployment insurnace. There wouldn't even be words to describe the condition. If you were the only one not making any money, there would be no such words as poverty, homelessness, or social inequality. You get my drift.

You are the only one is simply untrue and hurful to the person on the receiving end. The goal of the speaker might be to help, or perhaps even to hurt, but in the end the result is the same. The listener feels inferior, inadequate, and alone. Instead of a boost to the confidence, the chair is pulled out from beneath them.

It need not be that way. You are not the only one, and you are definitely not alone. As bloggers, we understand that other people share common problems, roadblocks, and sometimes need a helping hand too. Occasionally, we can even offer assistance to others ourselves. As a matter of fact, helping others to succeed was and remains my business blog's most important goal.



Bloggers can support one another and remove that sense of aloneness and isolation in several ways. Perhaps a group of bloggers could meet via instant messenger, chat room, or conference call on a regular basis to discuss common difficulties. Learning from others and sharing experiences can serve to stimulate new and fresh ideas, as well as help to overcome that sense of being entirely on your own. Knowing how other people solved their problems can go far in easing your own challenges and difficulties.

Blogger sharing can go far beyond business meetings to discuss personal issues as well. The number of topics for the blogger support group are literally endless. They are bounded only by the needs and experience of the group members. Everyone learns from everyone else's knowledge and experiences. Every day, bloggers share valuable insights with the world. They also share information, ideas, and support privately through e-mails, telephone calls, and instant messaging.

Don't listen to anyone who tells you that you are the only one who has a vaguely described problem. Instead, remind them that you are part of a strong group of independent like minded individuals, who help one another succeed in business, and in life. You are far from being alone and the only one.

Helping others assists you in achieving your goals too.

Bloggers helping bloggers is the the best path to shared success in any aspect of life.

Join with others today. You are most definitely not alone.

And you are not the only one.

Tags: ideas, bloggers helping bloggers, sharing information, group discussion.

READ MORE - Blogging support: No longer alone

This week sees a business and technology approach to the travelling business show, recognized by one and all as Carnival of the Capitalists makes a visit to David Daniels' (pictured below left) business and technology blog known appropriately enough as Business & Technology Reinvention.

This week's edition of Carnival of the Capitalists highlights some of the best bloggers writing on the internet today.

Blogging topics presented include entrepreneurship, management, market trading, internet commerce, marketing, the national and global economies, and technology.



As you would expect from Business & Technology Reinvention, there are many discussions of economics, marketing, entrepreneurship, and technology.

It's always great to read and discover the many high quality blogs out there in the blogosphere.

We don't always get to them all, and this edition of Carnival of the Capitalists has introduced many of us to some brand new ones.











I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Capitalists as well.

My post is titled "Blog SEO: Higher search engine rankings tip" where I discuss Blogs are natural SEO powerhouses, ranking highly in all of the major search engines, but even the best SEO tools need some help. After all, even Tiger Woods has to practice his drives and putts.

If you wish to submit an entry to next week's, or any Carnival of the Capitalists edition, e-mail your entries to the new address:

cotcmail -at- gmail -dot- com

You can always use the handy entry form at Gongol.com where all you have to do is fill in the blanks. Talk about making it easy to be included!

Another brand new form for sending entries to all of the internet carnvivals is provided by The Conservative Cat. This is a great one stop entry drop, for all your blog post entries, for every blog carnival.

Note as well that Carnival of the Capitalists. has a new URL at http://thecotc.com/. Be sure to update your links and bookmarks.



If you are searching for new and exciting ways to expand your blog's readership, you should seriously consider sending an entry to Carnival of the Capitalists.

Merely being included in the company, of the first rate regular Carnival of the Capitalists contributors, will enhance the reputation of your blog.

The extra visitors sent to your blog won't hurt either!

The growth and staying power, of Carnival of the Capitalists, is beginning to catch the attention of people outside the blogging community. Each hosting, brings a fresh assortment of new readers, to the various blogs involved.

The visitors aren't only bloggers anymore.

Readership is expanding to include the mainstream media, various government and private organizations, many businesses, and other interested people from beyond the blogging community.

Many people are introduced to some tremendous blogs that they might otherwise have missed.

Next week's Carnival of the Capitalists will be at Starling Hunter's business and economics blog known as The Business of America is Business

In the meantime, click that mouse over to the Business & Technology Reinvention hosting of Carnival of the Capitalists.

If the great posted entries don't convince you to click, or the possibility of finding some brand new blogs to read doesn't do it, then Carnival of the Capitalists certainly will get you in the business of technology. (groan)

Tags: carnivals, capitalism, business, marketing.

READ MORE - Carnival of the Capitalists at Business & Technology Reinvention

Conversations with Experts: How to Build Your Business On and Off-line

Back to the Future: Growing your audience and simplifying your email marketing with blogs

Wednesday, August 30, 2006, 8:30 p.m. ET (no charge, registration required)

Guest Expert: Phil Hollows, Feedblitz

Blogs are the Internet's fastest growing sector. Coupled with a new technology called RSS, blogs can recharge and reinvigorate your email marketing and much more. The discussion will cover topics such as how to:

* Build closer relationships with prospects and customers using blogs and email.

*More easily differentiate yourself from your competitors.

*Take the pain out of creating and managing your email marketing, newsletters and e-Zines.

Whether you have an existing in-house list or are starting out from scratch, Phil will have tips and techniques for improving your list's quality, tracking metrics and increasing its value to you - simply.



Phil Hollows (photo left) is the Founder and Chief Executive of Feedblitz, the Internet's largest and most successful RSS and Blog to Email service, and most recently a technical sponsor of the successful BlogHer conference.

Before starting Feedblitz, Phil was vice president of marketing for an enterprise network and security management software company. Phil's career spans multiple (okay, two) continents and multiple disciplines, from management consulting to software development.

Register for this conversation with Phil Hollows:

ConversationsWithExperts.com

If you missed any Conversations With Experts, you can become a monthly member of a private blog. As a member, you gain access to the entire Conversation With Experts audio series of guest experts, past and present.

Conversations with Experts is sponsored by Build a Better Blog System and by the All In One Ezine Publishing System from The Blog Squad.

Tags: teleseminars, Phil Hollows, RSS feeds, e-mail.

READ MORE - Conversations with experts: Phil Hollows - Free teleseminar

Blog topics are always a popular posting item. After all, most bloggers are short on posting ideas from time to time. Most discussions on the issue focus on the usual, such as considering your major blog themes from another angle, or finding related and complementary approaches. You know the drill. Let's try another concept on for size.

There are probably many topics that your never write about at any time. For example, I almost never write about politics on this blog. When I mention the subject at all, it's usually in conjunction with a preference for creating a stronger entrepreneurial climate, where startup businesses are able to prosper and grow. I mention politics as it's one of the most popular blogging arenas. It's one of the few types of blogs that the mainstream media acknowledges as well. I suspect that's because of their own obsession with all things government related; but I digress.

After all of that wonderful circuitous path, perhaps we can find some value in all of this digression. I happen to like sliding off onto tangents, but I try to control that writing weakness as much as possible. On the other hand, some of my readers prefer my off topic postings, so maybe straying from the stated path has some merit after all.



In any case,it's often a good idea to consider your non-blogging topics. Surprisingly, subjects that never appear on your blog in print can very often lead to great on-topic blog posts.

As with my example of a political post tying in with entrepreneurship, other subject areas are very often related to your own regular blog posting themes. As new subject matter is introduced to your blog, in a manner that's entirely relevant to your blog's overall theme, you have just achieved some additional SEO blog power.

New topics, that are tied in with your regular posts, increase your number of keyword phrases for searches. As a result, your blog is able to rise in the search engine rankings crossing into other thematic areas. The new searches mean more blog visitors, and potential long term readers, and possible relationships.



The key is to keep the new blog topics related to your regular material. The best technique is to include a tie-in paragraph right in the new topic post. Search engines emphasise theme relevance. Make certain that you maintain it.

Here's an example of what I mean by theme relevance. Don't just introduce a post, out of thin air about elephants onto your crafts blog, unless you discuss how elephants are a popular design motif. Voila! Instant theme relevance.

Adding new posting areas to your blog will widen your search engine keyword phrase net. As a result, your blog will gain some additional readers.

Think outside the box.

Better yet, build a brand new box entirely.

Tags: post ideas, blogging, blog SEO, theme relevance.

READ MORE - Blog topics: Widening the search engine net

Writing a second, third, or any multiple number of business books creates another volume of sales for an author. That's fairly obvious, even to the casual observer. When a person writes another book, that's another item to sell. There is now much more to the sales story to consider than just the latest offering.

What is less obvious at first glance, is the strong possibility that every additional book published boosts the sales of the author's previous works. Along with the expected sales of the new publication, older books find their way back onto the business best seller lists as well.

Todd S. of 800-CEO-READ has discovered some compelling evidence that writing a new book or sequel will revive the sales of a previously published work. In effect, an author may be getting two books sold, instead of one. The sequel provides the marketing power to fuel the revival.

Todd says:

There seems to be phenomenon that a business book author's first book gets a bump when the second comes out. I can't show you data (yet), but I have heard this often anecdotally from authors and publishers. I am sure there is also a popularity threshold for the first book has pass, in order for this to be true.

Intuitively, the idea makes a great amount of logical sense. When a reader discovers the sound advice offered by the author in the most recent book, the buyer is very likely to purchase other works by the same author. I know that I have done that on more than one occasion, and I doubt that I am alone. Trusted business book authors often sell all of their collected works to the same person.

The advertising and publicity surrounding a newly published book often rubs off on previous volumes as well. Very often, the author will be described on the cover of the latest book as the writer of a previous edition. Demand is then created for more sequels by the same writer.

Todd S. may be onto something big here in the world of business book publishing.

We all await his further research, into the revival of previously published books, upon the arrival of a new volume.

Authors and would be authors will be especially interested in this publishing and book sales phenomenon.

Tags: business books, sequels, book marketing, book publishing.

READ MORE - Book Sequels: Sales boosters for earlier books?

Blog posting ideas, or the lack thereof, are a constant source of anxiety for many bloggers. Post topics are especially difficult to find for many business and professional bloggers. If there is no news in the industry in general, or the company in particular, blog posting stress raises its less than pleasing head.

At moments like these, it's time to write a throwaway post.

I can see everyone already recoiling in absolute horror. The very thought of sullying their beautifully written and almost award winning blogs with less than ideal posts is simply too much to bear. Let's pause for a moment while the woe is me swoon phase passes, and we can return to blogging business. Throwaway posts are not what they appear at first glance.

What we are seeking is a post that is within the blog's regular range of topics, yet doesn't require a major committment of time and research to complete. We want a post that almost writes itself in a short period of time. Consider the post a sedative for your blogging anxiety, and something light and tasty for your readership. Note that the concept is already displaying a few surprising benefits. I'll bet you thought it was all about typing a few lines about the appearance of your office doorknobs, or the contents of your lower right hand desk drawer.



While those options may possess some merit, we're seeking something a bit less esoteric. Think in terms of three ways to make your job easier, or why a tidy desk is important to productivity. In other words, look outside of the box. For a business blogger, a discussion of of anything business or workplace related is ideal. It doesn't even have to be a weighty concept, unless you're writing about the importance of paperweights or office door stoppers. The key is to be helpful, interesting, and a bit lighthearted.

One of the most surprising aspects of blogging is the response to your various posts. Some of your thought to be masterpieces of thought, research, and wisdom receive nary a notice. On the other hand, your post about bringing your dog to the office for the day becomes your most linked writing of the year. Predicting post popularity (some gratuitous alliteration there) is not an exact science. I'm not even sure that it is a science, but give the government time and they just might create a grant to cover the research. In any case, the throwaway post might be one of your most popular efforts.



Write about something interesting in your life or workplace. Whether it's the time you forgot your umbrella in a deluge of near Biblical proportions, or how to survive the day with no internet access, your readers will welcome your stories.

Throwaway posts are more personal in nature, and definitely not stuffy or laced with stilted prose. No wonder they are so popular with blog readers.

When out of posting ideas, consider the throwaway. It may catch an entirely new readership for your blog, while easing your sense of blogging anxiety.

Tags: posting ideas, blogging, throwaway posts, writing.

READ MORE - Blog posting ideas: Seeking the throwaway

The 205^th edition of the longest running internet blog carnival, the well known Carnival of the Vanities appears at Andrew Ian Dodge's eclectic political blog known as Dodgeblogium.

Carnival of the Vanities has a new home at Zeuswood and Stingflower's dedicated to all things carnival blog, appropriately titled First Carnival.

Carnival of the Vanities participants and hosts should take note that there are new submission guidelines in place for all future Carnivals.

Carnival of the Vanities is the original collection of blog postings, assembling some of the best and wide ranging bloggers on the internet.

This week's Carnival of the Vanities entries include politics, literature, science, humour, technology, business, and an iPod-wielding Cthulhu.



I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Vanities as well.

My post is titled "Managing With Aloha by Rosa Say - Book review" where I discuss how the timeless wisdom of Hawaii, and its spirit of Aloha, are the values that author Rosa Say recommends for your business, in her landmark Managing with Aloha Bringing Hawaii's Universal Values to the Art of Business. Ageless themes of unconditional love for others, for giving of yourself, and sharing what you possess, are only a few of the eternal values expressed in the book.


Carnival of the Vanities needs hosts for upcoming editions. As a blogger, there is no one better qualified to host the Carnival of the Vanities than you!

Here is the e-mail address so you can become a host:

Contact: host [at] firstcarnival [dot] com



To participate in the Carnival of the Vanities or any of the other blog carnivals, one of the easiest techniques is to use the all inclusive carnival entry form at The Conservative Cat.





Another participation option is to simply e-mail your entry to the new e-mail address:

cotvmail -at- gmail -dot- com

As I suggest elsewhere, hosting and contributing to the various internet blog carnivals is a great promotional idea for your blog.

When you send an entry to Carnival of the Vanities, or any of the many internet blog Carnivals, don't forget to link to the hosted edition. It's not only common courtesy, but helps to increase visitor traffic for all entrants. It also shows your appreciation of the hard work done by the host in preparing the post. Everyone shares in the benefits of the expanded Carnival readership. Show the Carnival some linky love.

Next week's edition of Carnival of the Vanities appears at a location awaiting official confirmation.

In the meantime, head on over to the Dodgeblogium hosting of Carnival of the Vanities and enjoy the posts on offer.

You will almost certainly be introduced to some great new and interesting blogs.

Tags: Carnival of the Vanities, blogging, carnivals, promotions.

READ MORE - Carnival of the Vanities 205 at Dodgeblogium

Blogs are natural SEO powerhouses, ranking highly in all of the major search engines, but even the best SEO tools need some help. After all, even Tiger Woods has to practice his drives and putts.

Blog SEO is no different. If you want higher search engine rankings in Google, MSN, and Yahoo Search, it's important to remember your blog themes and topics. Fortunately, it's what you post about on a daily basis.

Your blog visitor traffic grows from searches for information about your blog's major topics. If your blog is about dogs, then your posts are most likely to be on that subject. The same holds true for blogs about football, law, politics, or knitting. Your blog is seen by the search engines as themed for those topics. Since you already have wide coverage on those topics, it's time to narrow the focus into some sub-categories.

Let's say that you are writing a blog about dogs. To rank highly for the numerous canine related topics, it's necessary to write about them. As I always tell my clients, you can't rank well for blueberry muffins if you don't talk about them at all. For your hypothetical dog blog, let's widen the search engine traffic net.




Today, you decide to write about feeding dogs. The best place to begin is with a post about dog food, water, dishes, times, and so on. Once you have written the post, you will notice that the column contains many animal related keyword phrases. All of those terms will be included in the search engine rankings. The trick is to have them rank highly. The first page would be nice.

After the post is written, it needs a title. Note that I suggest writing the post first. Some bloggers write the title first. Some create it last. For strong SEO for your blog, we'll develop a title last. It's often easier that way and less work is not a bad thing for a blogger.

Your dog related post contains a discussion of how to select dog food appropriate for your pet. The discussion continues with how and when to feed the animal. It would appear that you've just written the classic how to article. They are always popular with readers, and they get searched for frequently. You have struck a winner. The question now is how to turn the post into SEO gold.

You can write the title two ways:

How to feed your healthy dog
Dog food: Selection and feeding




Note that the first title style is straight forward. The second title places a keyword phrase at the important front end, and expands on the topic after a colon. Both title styles are effective for blog SEO. I suggest you try using both styles on your blog. Note that this post uses the keyword phrase colon phrase format.

You can even use a catchy turn of phrase, but if strong SEO is your goal, make sure the funny line contains the keywords for the post as well. A sense of difficulty always makes for a fun challenge, but handle comedy with care. Not everyone can pull it off successfully, and your search engine placements could falter as a result.

Think about your blog post titles, and write them to match the posting content. The combination of a title that says what the post is about, and then actually writing the material, makes for a powerful SEO combination. It's also not hard to do and requires no additional work on your part.

Higher search engine rankings, and no added effort. Now that's something to blog about!

Tags: blog SEO, posting ideas, blog post titles, keyword phrases.

READ MORE - Blog SEO: Higher search engine rankings tip

This week sees a branded approach to the travelling business show, recognized by one and all as Carnival of the Capitalists makes a visit to James Archer's entrepreneurship, branding, and business blog known as Forty Media.

This week's edition of Carnival of the Capitalists highlights some of the best bloggers writing on the internet today.

Blogging topics presented include entrepreneurship, management, market trading, internet commerce, marketing, the national and global economies, and technology.

As you would expect from Forty Media, there are many discussions of economics, marketing, entrepreneurship, and brands.

It's always great to read and discover the many high quality blogs out there in the blogosphere.

We don't always get to them all, and this edition of Carnival of the Capitalists has introduced many of us to some brand new ones.



I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Capitalists as well.

My post is titled "Small is the New Big by Seth Godin - Book Review" where I discuss how any new book by the well known marketing wizard Seth Godin is a business book publishing event. Small Is the New Big And Other (Little) Ideas That Change Everything, the latest work from Seth Godin, is certainly no exception. The book is a collection of the author's best short essays and blog posts, all packaged neatly in one volume.

If you wish to submit an entry to next week's, or any Carnival of the Capitalists edition, e-mail your entries to the new address:

cotcmail -at- gmail -dot- com

You can always use the handy entry form at Gongol.com where all you have to do is fill in the blanks. Talk about making it easy to be included!

Another brand new form for sending entries to all of the internet carnvivals is provided by The Conservative Cat. This is a great one stop entry drop, for all your blog post entries, for every blog carnival.

Note as well that Carnival of the Capitalists. has a new URL at http://thecotc.com/. Be sure to update your links and bookmarks.



If you are searching for new and exciting ways to expand your blog's readership, you should seriously consider sending an entry to Carnival of the Capitalists.

Merely being included in the company, of the first rate regular Carnival of the Capitalists contributors, will enhance the reputation of your blog.

The extra visitors sent to your blog won't hurt either!

The growth and staying power, of Carnival of the Capitalists, is beginning to catch the attention of people outside the blogging community. Each hosting, brings a fresh assortment of new readers, to the various blogs involved.

The visitors aren't only bloggers anymore.

Readership is expanding to include the mainstream media, various government and private organizations, many businesses, and other interested people from beyond the blogging community.

Many people are introduced to some tremendous blogs that they might otherwise have missed.

Next week's Carnival of the Capitalists will be at David Daniels' business and technology blog known appropriately enough as Business & Technology Reinvention.

In the meantime, click that mouse over to the Forty Media hosting of Carnival of the Capitalists.

If the great posted entries don't convince you to click, or the possibility of finding some brand new blogs to read doesn't do it, then Carnival of the Capitalists certainly will get some branding done for you. (groan)

Tags: carnivals, capitalism, business, marketing.

READ MORE - Carnvival of the Capitalists at Forty Media

Blog out might not be the proper blogspeak term, but everyone who has blogged for at least three months understands the phenomenon. Blog out is that feeling that blogging is just not fun any longer. It's the sense that writing blog posts has become a chore and a duty. Blogging even takes on the feel of drudgery and pain. The blog owner feels burned out on blogging and all of its related activities.

A blogger experiencing blog out is no longer writing because they want to express themselves. They post because of a sense of obligation to their readership. Blogging shouldn't be that way.

One of the causes of blog out is a constant concern with visitor traffic logs. Checking the number of visitors to the blog ten times per day will not increase the readership levels. It serves only to frustrate the blog owner who believes no one is reading the slaved over postings. Forgetting to check the visitor logs for at least a week is a good place to start. You might be interested to know that I rarely check my visitor logs any longer. I know people read my blog. I understand they don't visit on a daily basis. Obsessing over numbers is not good for the blogging soul.

Another reason that bloggers begin to burn out is concern about what to use for the next posting topic. Many good bloggers keep a list of potential posting ideas handy at all times. When an idea for a column pops into their head, they write it down. Keep a pencil and notepad handy, as topics often appear as if by magic. You want to be prepared for those glorious moments of inspiration.



Often, bloggers become disillusioned with blogging when it doesn't meet their lofty expectations. Many people start a blog with dreams of thousands of daily visitors, all forming wonderful relationships, and happily linking to your blog by the hundreds of invound links. When this happy result fails to materialize instantly, discouragement replaces optimism. The blog soon joins the millions of other abandoned blogs that also began with such high hopes. Keep your goals realistic and achievable, and blog out will be less likely to rear its ugly head.

Blogging is a slow process, requiring patience and perserverance. All of the good things a blog can produce will appear in the fullness of time. It just won't be today.

Keep your expectations at a reasonable level, record any good posting ideas that occur to you during the day, and give your visitor stats a rest. By following these basics, your blog will continue to be a source of fun and enjoyment. Let the blog provide the desired results in its own time. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Just say no to blog out.

Tags: posting ideas, blogging, blog out, visitor traffic logs.

READ MORE - Blog out: When blogging becomes a chore

Carnival of the Vanities is the longest running blog carnival on the internet. In fact, the concept of
Carnival of the Vanities to have a different blogger host the best self selected posts each week, is the reason for the spectacular growth of internet carnivals on every topic.

Sadly, however, the grand old Carnival of the Vanities has fallen upon some hard times in recent months. A lack of hosts, concerns over post quality, spam entries of little value, and a failure of entrants to link back to the weekly host are only a few of the issues facing carnival caretakers Zeuswood and Stingflower. It's time to restore the Carnival of the Vanities to its former glory.

Not so many months ago, there was a backlog of hosts extending an entire year plus a waiting list. For the past few weeks, the carnival has had to scramble to find a last minute home. The carnival needs hosts, if we want it to continue providing a venue for our best posts, into the future. It's that simple.

Carnival of the Vanities needs hosts for upcoming editions. As a blogger, there is no one better qualified to host the Carnival of the Vanities than you!

Here is the e-mail address so you can become a host for a future edition:

Contact: host [at] firstcarnival [dot] com



When you send an entry to Carnival of the Vanities, or any of the many internet blog Carnivals, don't forget to link to the hosted edition. It's not only common courtesy, but helps to increase visitor traffic for all entrants. It also shows your appreciation of the hard work done by the host in preparing the post. Everyone shares in the benefits of the expanded Carnival readership. Show the Carnival some linky love. It will be repaid many times over.

When you submit your entry post to the carnival, be sure to read and follow the new entry participation guidelines. They are there to help keep the quality of posts at a high level. Read them, and put their spirit to work for everyone.

Contact carnival caretakers Zeuswood or Stingflower and become a host of Carnival of the Vanities. Let's put the prestige of hosting and participation back into the grand old carnival again. With your help, Carnival of the Vanities can once again be a major force in the blogosphere.

Volunteer to host Carnival of the Vanities today.

You'll be glad that you did.

Tags: Carnival of the Vanities, blogging, carnivals, promotions.

READ MORE - Carnival of the Vanities needs your help

Nine Lives of Leadership

Provocative Advice for Great Leaders

By: Lisa Haneberg; Jack Covert (foreword)

Published: Oct 10, 2005
ISBN: 0000000054
Format: eBook, 83pp
Publisher: 800CEORead



My good friend Lisa Haneberg (and also a provider of excellent advice to me) of Management Craft has written a powerful 83 page e-book, packed with useful and practical information called Nine Lives of Leadership Provocative Advice for Great Leaders. By working together with publisher Jack Covert (who authored the book's foreward) of 800-CEO-READ, Lisa has produced a handy and easy to download and read pdf format e-book.

Her premise was to interview and pick the brains of many of the leading experts in print today. In effect, Lisa gleaned the best ideas, from many of the well known authors of business books, on the market today. The collection is, in effect, many books in one. It's like a one stop idea shopping spot.

Her list of authors interviewed is impressive:

Jason Jennings
Laurence Haughton
Sally Hogshead
Gary Neilson
Peter Han
Tim Sanders
Luda Kopeikina
Eileen Shaprio
Keith Ferrazzi



The information is presented as expected from a leading business blogger like Lisa Haneberg (pictured left). It's informal, often funny, entertaining, and highly informative. I enjoyed the book immensely, and I recommend it for anyone seeking practical hands on advice from industry experts. One of the strengths of the book is the ability to read it in any order, as each interview can be read as desired and reviewed over again when required.

To be on the same management page as your competitors, you will need to read this book. You know that they are absorbing the wisdom from the interviewees too. You can stay a few steps ahead of your competition if you beat them to the ideas presented in the e-book.

For more information on purchasing the book, check out the publisher 800-CEO-READ for all the details.

Get some no nonsense business from well known business coach Lisa Haneberg, and from some of the leading business book authors publishing today.

Tags: None Lives of Leadership, Lisa Haneberg, Jack Covert, business books.

READ MORE - Nine Lives of Leadership by Lisa Haneberg - Book Review

All your base are belong to us.

That is the cult classic line from a very badly translated Japanese video game. The term has become an underground slang part of the English language. While I don't write much in the way of slang on my blog, I avoid profanity as a form of written expression. I prefer not to write in that way.

On the other hand, many bloggers rely heavily on slang and four letter words for shock value on their blogs. I have no problem with anyone writing any way that they choose. In fact, that's one of the most important features of blogging. You can write whatever you want in the way of topics and vocabulary selection. The blogger is the editor.



Because a blogger self edits each post, there is the possibility of inconsistent quality. Of course, having a bad editor wouldn't correct that shortcoming anyway. While a good editor can guide a writer to bring out more of the background and dig more deeply for information, a poor editor is of little help at all. The blogger is on at least equal ground with a writer working with an incompetent editor. I would prefer to be self edited instead.

As bloggers, we can write whatever we want, and build relationships based on that open and transparent message. There are no editors or gatekeepers demanding we remove words, sentences, paragraphs, or even entire postings. We have freedom of expression to use in any way that we choose.

And I always wanted to write "all your bases are belong to us". With a blog, I can post that sentence, with the famous bad grammar and all.

After all, blogging is all about freedom of choice and freedom of expression. You are always free to post whatever you choose as your topic and your writing style.

That is the power of blogging.

Tags: freedom of expression, blogging, posting, self editing.

READ MORE - All your base are belong to us

The 204^th edition of the longest running internet blog carnival, the well known Carnival of the Vanities appears at Mike DeWitt's business blog known as Spooky Action.

Carnival of the Vanities has a new home at Zeuswood and Stingflower's dedicated to all things carnival blog, appropriately titled First Carnival.

Carnival of the Vanities participants and hosts should take note that there are new submission guidelines in place for all future Carnivals.

Carnival of the Vanities is the original collection of blog postings, assembling some of the best and wide ranging bloggers on the internet.

This week's Carnival of the Vanities entries include politics, literature, science, humour, technology, business, and some spooky activities.



I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Vanities as well.

My post is titled "Brand Royalty by Matt Haig - Book Review" where I discuss how the impact of the top brand names on our daily lives is undeniable. For Matt Haig in his book Brand Royalty How The Worlds Top 100 Brands Thrive & Survive, the question is what makes the top one hundred brands so successful. In a series of fascinating case studies, author Matt Haig outlines what makes the most important brands so influential and so powerful in the global marketplace.

Carnival of the Vanities needs hosts for upcoming editions. As a blogger, there is no one better qualified to host the Carnival of the Vanities than you!

Here is the e-mail address so you can become a host:

Contact: host [at] firstcarnival [dot] com



To participate in the Carnival of the Vanities or any of the other blog carnivals, one of the easiest techniques is to use the all inclusive carnival entry form at The Conservative Cat.





Another participation option is to simply e-mail your entry to the new e-mail address:

cotvmail -at- gmail -dot- com

As I suggest elsewhere, hosting and contributing to the various internet blog carnivals is a great promotional idea for your blog.

When you send an entry to Carnival of the Vanities, or any of the many internet blog Carnivals, don't forget to link to the hosted edition. It's not only common courtesy, but helps to increase visitor traffic for all entrants. It also shows your appreciation of the hard work done by the host in preparing the post. Everyone shares in the benefits of the expanded Carnival readership. Show the Carnival some linky love.

Next week's edition of Carnival of the Vanities appears at Andrew Ian Dodge's eclectic political blog known as Dodgeblogium.

In the meantime, head on over to the Spooky Action: Carnival of the Vanities #204 - The Last Free-for-All hosting of Carnival of the Vanities and enjoy the posts on offer.

You will almost certainly be introduced to some great new and interesting blogs.

Tags: Carnival of the Vanities, blogging, carnivals, promotions.

READ MORE - Carnival of the Vanities 204 at Spooky Action

E-mail metrics are often difficult for many online marketers to track. Often the results of an e-mail newsletter marketing campaign are left to chance. The marketer sends out the e-mail, crosses some fingers and toes, and hopes for the best. With few industry guidelines and benchmarks as references, many marketers are left int the dark. Thanks to a new study by eROI E-Mail Marketing, that is about to change.



According to public relations professional Rachel Weikum of Weikum Communications, the results are very important to the internet marketing industry.

Rachel says:

Email marketing expert, eROI, surveyed over 300 B2B and B2C customers and here's some of what they found:

Highlights –

1. The Q2 06 email study, as did Q1 2006, show that weekends, across the board, provide the best opportunities for emarketers.

2. We saw in Q1 2006, that newsletters were sent out by marketers more than any other form of marketing collateral. This quarter we also find that 24% of those surveyed use false email addresses for consumer newsletters.

3. Other key findings include – the best time to send email (noon and evening), frequency and what causes folks to unsubscribe.

eRoi have been publishing a quarterly email report since 2004. These studies show interesting trends in terms of best day to send email (B2B & B2C), the best time to send, what causes people to opt-out of emails and other interesting statistical data.

I was noticing an interesting trend when reviewing the last two years of the study – in 2004 the best day to send was Thursday’s, in 2005 it was Friday’s, now for 2006 we are seeing the board, provide the best opportunities for emarketers. This goes to show that the "best" day is a moving target, validating our hypothesis that best days are a fluctuating and ever-changing element and that testing is vital. While this seems like common sense it does show that patterns exist on a macro and micro level and you need to identify those by performing, at minimum, a quarterly audit of the emails sent.

The entire report is available for download and it contains some not to be missed information and statistics. These benchmark numbers can be put to use in your own e-mail marketing campaigns. Of course, be certain to run tests against your own already existing in-house data, as results of e-mail marketing projects can vary significantly.

The importance of the eROI study is the establishment of some industry baselines. Your results could exceed their survey standards, or they could fall short.

As always, never stop testing and recording the results of your e-mail marketing campaign. Study those metrics and put them to use on your next successful sales venture.

In the meantime, download, study, and put to use the eROI e-mail marketing idustry survey.

Tags: eROI, e-mail marketing, Rachel Weikum, industry survey.

READ MORE - E-mail marketing industry survey available for download

This week sees a bookish approach to the travelling business show, recognized by one and all as Carnival of the Capitalists makes a visit to Barry J. Moltz's business and book blog known as BarryBlog.

This week's edition of Carnival of the Capitalists highlights some of the best bloggers writing on the internet today.

Blogging topics presented include entrepreneurship, management, market trading, internet commerce, marketing, the national and global economies, and technology.

As you would expect from BarryBlog there are many discussions of economics, marketing, entrepreneurship, and books.

It's always great to read and discover the many high quality blogs out there in the blogosphere.

We don't always get to them all, and this edition of Carnival of the Capitalists has introduced many of us to some brand new ones.



I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Capitalists as well.

My post is titled "The John Deere Way by David Magee - Book review" where I discuss how you've probably heard the slogan, "Nothing runs like a Deere". For giant farm,industrial, and yard equipment manufacturer John Deere, it's more than a mere catchphrase. It's the way the company does business. In The John Deere Way Performance that Endures, author David Magee interviewed John Deere employees from CEOs and executives to assembly line workers and janitors. The resulting book is a testament to an unwavering committment to excellence.

If you wish to submit an entry to next week's, or any Carnival of the Capitalists edition, e-mail your entries to the new address:

cotcmail -at- gmail -dot- com

You can always use the handy entry form at Gongol.com where all you have to do is fill in the blanks. Talk about making it easy to be included!

Another brand new form for sending entries to all of the internet carnvivals is provided by The Conservative Cat. This is a great one stop entry drop, for all your blog post entries, for every blog carnival.

Note as well that Carnival of the Capitalists. has a new URL at http://thecotc.com/. Be sure to update your links and bookmarks.



If you are searching for new and exciting ways to expand your blog's readership, you should seriously consider sending an entry to Carnival of the Capitalists.

Merely being included in the company, of the first rate regular Carnival of the Capitalists contributors, will enhance the reputation of your blog.

The extra visitors sent to your blog won't hurt either!

The growth and staying power, of Carnival of the Capitalists, is beginning to catch the attention of people outside the blogging community. Each hosting, brings a fresh assortment of new readers, to the various blogs involved.

The visitors aren't only bloggers anymore.

Readership is expanding to include the mainstream media, various government and private organizations, many businesses, and other interested people from beyond the blogging community.

Many people are introduced to some tremendous blogs that they might otherwise have missed.

Next week's Carnival of the Capitalists will be at the entrepreneurship, branding, and business blog known as Strange Brand.

In the meantime, click that mouse over to the BarryBlog hosting of Carnival of the Capitalists.

If the great posted entries don't convince you to click, or the possibility of finding some brand new blogs to read doesn't do it, then Carnival of the Capitalists certainly will get some of reading done too. (groan)

Tags: carnivals, capitalism, business, marketing.

READ MORE - Carnival of the Capitalists at BarryBlog